CHAPTER 15
DIABOLOS’ END
As they had planned, King Christian and his army had just taken their places in and around the trees lining the road to the king’s castle when they heard a thunderous sound. It sounded like a stampede of horses or cattle mixed with wild shouts of rage. Looking up they could all see a great wall of dust just over the hills moving toward them.
Princess Mary, who was known for her ability as an archer, was perched in a great oak tree in the midst of the other archers. As she observed the cloud of dust draw closer and the vague shapes of wild men on horseback beginning to emerge from the dust, she readied her bow and fixed her arrow on one of the first horsemen.
Prince John, who was in a tree across the road from Mary, gave his sister a reassuring look, and a nod as they both saw Diabolos sending forth his army. John noticed how Diabolos was a cowardly leader, apparently staying behind his men so he would be just out of range of their arrows once they started firing. Though Diabolos was unwilling to risk his own life, he apparently had no hesitation in encouraging his army into the jaws of certain death.
Just as the enemy was about to come within range, King Christian shouted to his army, “Have courage and stand firm, the King of Heaven is with us!”
Suddenly, as Diabolos had planned, a flood of his horsemen rushed through the pass as the other groups came unexpectedly around the two hills. It was as if floodgates had opened and a torrent of water was about to rush over the small army of El.
All hearts were pounding so hard many felt as if their hearts would jump out of their chests. In spite of the fear, every person was ready, and all said brief prayers that Prince Michael would be successful in slaying the dragon. This was their only hope for victory.
Taking note of Diabolos’ attack, King Christian chuckled, “It would have been disastrous to have used that same old trick again, hiding behind the two hills, wouldn’t it, Artemus?”
“Yes, my king,” Artemus replied with trembling voice.
The army of Diabolos was initially confused to find no opposing force behind the hills and to find themselves crashing into their own comrades resulting in several of his own men killing each other by mistake. They soon regrouped and readied themselves to rush toward King Christian and his men, who were confidently mounted on their horses in the middle of the road as if to block the way.
Diabolos halted his army briefly and spoke with Skolios, his commander. “This is another of Christian’s tricks! I can feel it. Send the two flanking groups through the trees and the rest, you take down the middle to crush Christian and his small force. We’ll see what’s in store.”
The army of Diabolos was soon rushing once more toward the defenders as Diabolos directed.
“They suspect, my king!” Artemus said in alarm.
“No matter,” replied the king, “our archers will quickly decimate them just the same.”
At that moment the king raised his sword in the air, and just as Diabolos’ army was within range, he swiftly brought his sword down and a hail of deadly arrows rained down upon the invaders. Each arrow found its mark and hundreds of the enemy fell dead with each volley.
As the arrows continued to reign down, Diabolos’ army grew more and more confused. When Diabolos realized his great army was falling apart, he was filled with greater and greater rage.
“We must pull back our army!” cried Skolios, riding back to Diabolos. “If we fail to pull back all will die, and we will have gained nothing.”
“No!” shouted Diabolos furiously. “They will be out of arrows before we are out of men.”
Just as Diabolos said, the arrows were soon depleted and the soldiers of the king fought hand to hand against a decimated but still superior army. As the dark night sky began to appear, the hearts of the king’s men sank under the weight of battle. Suddenly Diabolos’ army seemed to lose the power to fight, and Diabolos himself seemed unsure of his ability.
For a moment Diabolos wondered what could be happening, but then he realized the dragon had been slain. Filled with rage Diabolos raced toward King Christian with his sword drawn. Before he could reach the king, Prince John jumped him and knocked him off his horse. The prince fought Diabolos as no man had ever fought against a mortal foe. However, before the prince could slay the wicked tyrant, he fell over a fallen tree branch and dropped his sword. Laughing, Diabolos was about to strike him with his sword when an arrow rang through the air and sank into his heart.
Diabolos, standing tall with his sword raised over his head, looked down at the arrow and seemed to try to gather enough strength to strike his helpless prey, but no strength was left.
He slowly dropped the sword and then fell backward on top of it. The last sight Diabolos saw as his life fled from his body was that of Princess Mary with a second arrow at the ready position if she should need it. With a groan of unintelligible words the evil lord was dead.
“You’ll not slay another of my brothers,” the princess said somberly as she looked at the body of Diabolos. She then walked over to Prince John and helped the frightened young man to his feet.
As John stood to his feet, he realized the army of Diabolos was dispersing and fleeing from the battlefield, going in all directions, and dropping their weapons as they fled.
“Look, Mary!” he cried out in excitement. “They’re fleeing! We’ve won the battle!”
John and Mary embraced, like small children, jumping up and down with excitement that the battle was won. Then they ran to their father to congratulate him for the great victory they had achieved. As they stood with their father, Artemus came to them with a prisoner.
“Your majesty, this man claims to be Skolios, commander of Diabolos’ army. I think he has something to say that will interest you.”
“Speak Skolios!” the king commanded.
“Majesty, I beg your mercy. Diabolos was an evil lord who forced us to serve him through threats against our families. Except for the barbaric southern hordes, not a man in Diabolos’ service was there of his own will. But I do have a small offering for you. It is the offering of knowledge. That knowledge is that I know your son, Michael, was taken prisoner, but he escaped from Diabolos. He was not killed by Diabolos or any of his men.”
At this news the king, John, and Mary looked at each other with hope and excitement in their eyes.
“Is there more?” the king asked.
“Yes, Majesty,” replied Skolios. “You could not have defeated Diabolos as long as the dragon lived, for Diabolos drew his power and his very life from the dragon. The dragon has obviously been slain, and Prince Michael, using his sword, Avenger, is the only one who could have done it.”
“Your words have brought some comfort to a grieving father who lost one son and many friends to your master,” King Christian responded. “You may leave with your life, Skolios. Leave the King’s Province and never enter it again.”
At the king’s words, Skolios bowed and ran away as quickly as he could.
King Christian watched Skolios run for a few moments with a look of quiet meditation on his face. Then he turned to his children and the captains of his army saying, “We have much work to do. Let us bury our dead and pray that Michael will soon return.”
With a look of having suffered great loss, the king began to look to the needs of the wounded and encourage those preparing to dig the graves of their fallen friends. They would also have to bury the many enemies strewn about the battlefield.
John turned to Mary and said, “I can see now there are no victors in war, only victims.”
Prince Michael and The Dragon Page 16